There's something deeply satisfying about a villain whose very identity is a mystery. Not "I wonder what their backstory is" mystery, but genuine, sustained, readers-arguing-in-letters-columns mystery. The kind where the clues are there if you're paying attention, but the answer keeps shifting just out of reach. That's what Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. gave … Continue reading Who’s Under the Mask? The Hobgoblin’s Long Con
Comic Book History
The Boy Who Had to Die: How Jason Todd Changed Batman Forever
There's a version of Batman that existed before 1988 — a hero who was wounded, yes, driven by grief, yes, but ultimately defined by a kind of grim optimism. The idea that one man, with enough discipline and enough gadgets, could hold back the darkness. And then there's the Batman who existed after the summer … Continue reading The Boy Who Had to Die: How Jason Todd Changed Batman Forever
For the Man Who Has Everything: Alan Moore’s Exploration of Superman’s Deepest Desires
There is a version of Superman that Hollywood keeps trying to sell us. He is a god among men — stoic, invincible, and just a little bit boring. He punches things. He catches falling planes. He stands in front of explosions looking heroic. And then he flies away, presumably to go do more punching somewhere … Continue reading For the Man Who Has Everything: Alan Moore’s Exploration of Superman’s Deepest Desires
The Confusing Middle 